Bookmarkable URLBarbara Villiers, Duchess of Cleveland, was a noted court beauty. In 1659 she married Roger Palmer, later Earl of Castlemaine, although by the following year she was the mistress of Charles II, to whom she bore five children. She was created a Lady of the Bedchamber to Catherine of Braganza in 1662 and Duchess of Cleveland in 1670.

The miniature derives from a portrait by Lely painted in c. 1664, which exists in several versions (e.g. Knole, National Trust). The diagonal parallel striations in the painting of the flesh tones suggests an attribution to Richard (1615-1690) or David Gibson (active 1656-1658).

Bookmarkable URLThe sitter, Anne Hyde (1637-71), is depicted turned to the left with her head turned towards the viewer. She wears a copper-coloured dress with ropes of pearls and jewels at her breast, and she plays with her long hair with her right hand. Anne Hyde was the daughter of the 1st Earl of Clarendon. She secretly married James, Duke of York, in 1660. This portrait miniature is based on a three-quarter-length portrait by Peter Lely (Royal Collection) of which there are many replicas.